Next Great Baker

Next Great Baker (also known as Cake Boss: Next Great Baker) is an American television series that airs on TLC, hosted by Buddy Valastro, the star of his own reality series, Cake Boss. The show features contestants participating in challenges that test their baking and decorating skills. Each week, a contestant will be eliminated; the last contestant standing will win a grand prize package that varies by season; other prizes for winning a challenge or the week's competition are also offered during the series.^[1]

Gameplay

Each round has three stages:

1. Baker's challenge: Each contestant has to meet a challenge set by Buddy the cake boss, such as making a pastry, baking a cake or in the first season finale, filling buckets of grease. The winner of this challenge receives a special bonus, revealed after the challenge.
2. Elimination challenge: Each contestant has a set amount of time over two days; usually three hours on the first day and the remaining time on the second to make a cake to specifications set by Buddy.
3. Final elimination: Buddy and the judges (the judge from the Baker's Challenge and a client) decide which three cakes are the best and which two cakes that are the worst. After the decisions are made, the contestants (who were waiting in the baker's lounge) enter the judging room. Contestants determined "safe" are then dismissed. Then, the three contestants with the best cakes are announced, with the one with the best cake in the challenge singled out. The remaining contestants have the worst cakes in the challenge; one of these will be told to leave the competition, transported away by Danny (an employee of Carlo's Bakery and Buddy's close friend) inside a box truck marked "Not the Next Great Baker".

Episodes

Season 1

The first season of Next Great Baker was taped inside a special kitchen studio set up at the Hudson County Community College Culinary Arts Institute in Jersey City, New Jersey, and was televised from December 6, 2010 to January 24, 2011 on TLC. Dana Herbert, the last contestant standing out of a field of ten contestants, won $50,000 cash, a Chevrolet Cruze and an apprenticeship at Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey.^[1] Following his win, Dana had been featured in some episodes of Cake Boss, but he had his own bakery before his appearance on the show.

Season 2

The second season of Next Great Baker was set at the new Carlo's Bakery facility at Lackawanna Center in Jersey City, and was televised from November 28, 2011 to January 30, 2012 on TLC. Marissa Lopez, the last contestant standing out of a field of 13 contestants, won $100,000 cash and a four-page spread in Brides magazine,^[4] along with an opportunity to work beside Buddy in the bakery.^[5]

Season 3

Season 3 premiered on Monday, November 26, 2012.^[6] The winner was Ashley Holt. She now is working at Buddy's bakery and is on Buddy's other show, Cake Boss.

References